Dynamic interactions

Example of an dynamic interaction. This one is copied from Alyx and allows citizens to kick zombies.

Dynamic interactions are special NPC animations introduced in Half-Life 2: Episode One . They allow NPCs to perform synchronized sequences with each other without input from the level. They're mostly used for combat and/or kill animations, like Alyx kicking a zombie or a hunter throwing a citizen to the ground, but other types of interactions are possible.

Two NPCs are involved in dynamic interactions. The main NPC is the NPC which starts and coordinates the interaction, e.g. Alyx in an "alyx vs. zombie" interaction. The partner NPC is the NPC which "receives" the interaction, e.g. the zombie in an "alyx vs. zombie" interaction.

Dynamic interactions are created with sequences and a $keyvalues block embedded in the main NPC's model, which defines how and when to perform a dynamic interaction. The partner NPC only needs a corresponding sequence with the same name as the main NPC's sequence. For example, Alyx has the dynamic interactions defined in her model using $keyvalues, but the zombie model just has sequences with matching names.

Bug:Since dynamic interactions aren't tied to any specific partner class and only look for matching sequence names, main NPCs with the $keyvalues block defined can perform dynamic interactions with other main NPCs with the same $keyvalues block defined (e.g. Alyx vs. Alyx), which can result in both NPCs performing weird, twinned interactions with each other. You can fix this in code by preventing interactions from starting if the other NPC has the same interaction $keyvalues defined.  [todo tested in ?]

Interactions can be forced with the ForceInteractionWithNPC input on the main NPC and can then be monitored with corresponding outputs.

Example

Found in models/Alyx_animations.mdl

Note: This is only one of the interactions and it has been restructured for easier reading!

 $keyvalues 
 { 
 
	dynamic_interactions 
	{

		"alyx_v_zombie_180deg_64" 
		{ 
			"trigger" "auto_in_combat" 
			"origin_relative" "64 0 0" 
			"angles_relative" "0 180 0" 
			"activity" "ACT_DI_ALYX_ZOMBIE_MELEE"
			"delay" "10.0" 
			"needs_weapon" "ME" 
			"weapon_mine" "weapon_alyxgun" 
		}   
 
	}
 }

Options

Note: The "partner" is the character that this character is interacting with.

trigger <choices>

What triggers this interaction... If this isn't defined, the interaction can be trigged via input forceinteractionwithnpc "<targetname> <interaction name>"

auto_in_combat

Automatically in combat.

loop_break_trigger <choices>

Stop looping the action animation if loop_in_action was set.

on_damage

Break loop on damage.

on_flashlight_illum

Break loop once illuminated by player's flashlight.

origin_relative <vector>

Desired relative origin of the other NPC

angles_relative <angles>

Desired relative angles of the other NPC

velocity_relative <vector>

Desired relative velocity of the other NPC

Bug:Non-functional.  [todo tested in ?]

entry_sequence <sequence>

What sequence to play for this interaction before the main sequence/activity.

entry_activity <activity>

What activity to play for this interaction before the main sequence/activity.

sequence <sequence>

What sequence to play for this interaction.(The "action")

activity <activity>

What activity to play for this interaction.(The "action")

exit_sequence <sequence>

What sequence to play for this interaction after the main sequence/activity.

exit_activity <activity>

What activity to play for this interaction after the main sequence/activity.

delay <float>

Delay before interaction can be used again

origin_max_delta <float>

Max distance sqr from the relative origin the NPC is allowed to be to trigger

loop_in_action <float>

Note: While the value is a float, it's used as a bool in code.

Loop in the "action" animation(the "activity" or "sequence" options.).

dont_teleport_at_end <choices>

Don't teleport/fix up positions at the end

me

Don't teleport/fix up this character's position

them

Don't teleport/fix up this character's partner's position

both

Don't teleport/fix up this character's or his partner's position

needs_weapon <choices>

Needs a weapon to perform this interaction?

ME

Does this character need a weapon?

THEM

Does this character's partner need a weapon?

BOTH

Does both this character and his partner need a weapon?

weapon_mine <classname>

The weapon required to perform this interaction. If undefined, will perform with any weapon.

weapon_theirs <classname>

Partner's weapon required to perform this interaction. If undefined, will perform with any weapon.

Related or Useful Stuff

Animation Events

These are useful animation events for those wanted to create an activity for a dynamic interaction. READ: Animation_Events

Todo:  Move to dedicated page or animation event page?

Example:

{ event AE_NPC_HURT_INTERACTION_PARTNER 28 "THEM 100" }

AE_NPC_HURT_INTERACTION_PARTNER "<choices> <int>"

Hurt either this character or his partner... and how much(the int).

ME

Hurt this character

THEM

Hurt the partner

AE_NPC_SET_INTERACTION_CANTDIE "<bool>"

Set those participating in the interaction to become invincible

Todo:  Which NPC? The partner or this character

AE_NPC_WEAPON_FIRE "<bool>"

Fire this character's weapon. The bool is whether or not you want him to use the weapon's secondary fire.

Console Variable

Example of ai_debug_dyninteractions debugging information during a dynamic interaction.

Example of ai_debug_dyninteractions debugging information when a NPC is checking for the proper conditions to perform a dynamic interaction

ai_debug_dyninteractions "<int>"

Debug the NPC dynamic interaction system.

If ai_debug_dyninteractions is enabled, this informaton is printed to the console while testing whether an interaction could start:

DYNINT: (al) testing interaction "alyx_v_zombie_180deg_64"
   al is at: 404.55 -67.75 -115.91
   al distsqr: 0.37 (468.17 -60.77 -115.91), desired: (468.24 -61.37 -115.91)
   Idle_Relaxed_Shotgun_2 Speed: 0.00
   al angle matched: (0.00 186.25 0.00), desired (0.00, 185.72, 0.00)

Tip:Setting ai_debug_dyninteractions to 2 and selecting the NPC via npc_select and/or ent_text prints the distance information even if both NPCs are out of range.

If ai_debug_dyninteractions is enabled, this informaton is printed to the console when a NPC begins a dynamic interaction:

npc_alyx(al) starting dynamic interaction "alyx_v_zombie_180deg_64" with npc_citizen(dude2).
 - Core sequence: alyx_zombie_fight2

See Also

• $keyvalues
• Animation Events
• sequence
• activity
• qc